RED GROUSE. 363 



widely distributed over the moorlands of Ireland. It 

 is almost unnecessary to remark that this species is 

 peculiar to our islands, being the island representative 

 of the Willow Grouse. 



Breeding habits : The Red Grouse is, of course, a 

 resident in the British Islands, and very closely confined 

 to a certain area. Its exclusive haunts are the vast 

 wastes of heath and ling that stretch almost continu- 

 ously from South Wales to the Orkneys. This ground 

 is broken and uneven enough, but almost destitute of 

 timber ; hills and dales, vast level plateaux, rolling 

 plains and hollows, ridges and peaks, everywhere more 

 or less luxuriantly covered with heath, with occasional 

 expanses of swamp full of coarse grass, rushes, sedges, 

 and the like, or broken areas in which gorse, bracken, 

 broom, and various mountain fruits flourish. The Red 

 Grouse pairs annually, early in spring, and though the 

 males are pugnacious and demonstrative during this 

 period, there is no evidence to show that any poly- 

 gamous propensities are indulged in. We cannot class 

 this Grouse as gregarious during the nesting season, but 

 numbers of birds breed in close proximity, and a 

 certain social tendency is frequently apparent during 

 the spring and summer. The nest is always made upon 

 tlie ground, usually among the ling and heather, less 

 frequently in rushes or coarse grass, and generally 

 under the shelter of a bush. Sometimes it is made by 

 the side of a public footpath or highway, in a much- 

 frequented spot. It is a mere hollow, carelessly lined 

 with a little dry grass, or bits of withered heath and 

 ling, or dead leaves. The bird is a close sitter, but 

 when flushed makes little or no demonstration if the 

 nest contains eggs only. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the Red Grouse are from five to fifteen 



